Motorola Corporation

Cts Corporation

James R Phillips

Dean Lawrence Cook

Hugh Robert Malone

Deborah Sue Dendy

Richard S Kommrusch

Donald W Forst

Ali A Tootoonchi

Xunhu Dai

Harold W Mech

Dale G Hall

Gary L Vaughn

John F Dullea

The present invention provides at least two input driving sections for a piezoelectric transformer. The two input driving sections are configured in a stacked configuration, with either one section on top of the other or the sections interlaced. Each input driving section includes a pair of electrodes. All of the electrodes preferably have a distinct electrode shape. The two input driving sections provide for the application of phase-modulated input signals to control the gain or amplitude of the transformer output.

Piezoelectric transformer with dual-phase input drive

Waveguide phase shifter (,FIG.,and,FIG.,) uses piezoelectric ceramics to implement a voltage variable actuator (,) for moving at least one dielectric vane (,) relative to a reference surface (,) in a waveguide cavity (,). In this manner, the phase shift in waveguide phase shifters (,) is controlled. In one embodiment, actuator (,) comprises first piezoelectric wafer (,), second piezoelectric wafer (,), first metallic layer (,), second metallic layer (,), third metallic layer (,), mating surface (,) and spacer (,). Actuator (,) uses a stack of piezoelectric materials to establish a lever arm mechanism to establish vertical movement (,) and move dielectric vane (,). Actuator (,) uses a stack of piezoelectric materials to establish vertical movement (,) and move dielectric vane (,). Waveguide phase shifters (,) are used in phased array antenna (,) operating at microwave frequencies.

Stacked piezoelectric actuators to control waveguide phase shifters and method of manufacture thereof

A piezoelectric actuator control circuit includes a first conductor attached to the free end of a piezoelectric device and a second conductor rigidly fixed at a position spaced from the piezoelectric device such that a variable capacitor is created between the first and second conductors. The variable capacitor is then used in a capacitive voltage divider to generate a drive signal which moves the piezoelectric device. Thus, the movement of the piezoelectric device can be precisely controlled. The control circuit allows for precise control of an array of such piezoelectric actuators and is particularly applicable to the use of actuators for controlling a mmWave phase array antenna.

Piezoelectrical mechanical actuators for use with small actuator distances and arrays

An array (100) of voltage variable capacitors (110) is provided in which voltage variable capacitors (110) are fabricated with piezoelectric displacement devices (150). Voltage variable capacitors (110) have first plates (120) which are coupled to displacement devices (150). First plates (120) are dielectrically coupled to second plates (130). Displacement device (150) has a stack of metallic layers (154), voltage variable material blocks (152), and voltage supply terminals (170) and (180). Voltage differences are established across voltage variable material blocks (152) using voltage supply terminals (170) and (180). A voltage difference causes a voltage variable material layer to change thickness, and this causes first plate (120) to move relative to second plate (130). Voltage variable material is selected from a group of piezoelectric ceramics, which can include lead-titanate (PbTiO.sub.3), lead-zirconate (PbZrO.sub.3), barium-titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), and lead-zirconate-titanate (PbZr.sub.x Ti.sub.1-x O.sub.3), where x varies from zero to one.

Voltage variable capacitor array and method of manufacture thereof

A phased array antenna (1000) is formed using a number of independently controllable piezoelectric phase shifters (1300) which results in a low cost phased array antenna that is functional at microwave and/or millimeter wave frequencies. In addition, the independently controllable piezoelectric phase shifters (1300) have sufficient phase range to allow a single antenna to be steered over a wide angle field of view. Piezoelectric phase shifters (1300) comprise at least one-voltage variable capacitor (1310, 1320, FIG. 2). Typically, the piezoelectric material used in the voltage variable capacitors is selected from a group consisting of lead-titanate (PbTiO.sub.3), lead-zirconate (PbZrO.sub.3), barium-titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), and lead-zirconate-titanate (PbZr.sub.x Ti.sub.1-x O.sub.3), where x varies from zero to one.

Phased array antenna using piezoelectric actuators in variable

A piezoelectric ceramic transformer made from a piezoelectric ceramic material stacked in a multilayer package which has a driving section 502 formed by alternately stacking piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in a direction of thickness of the piezoelectric plate. The driving section 502 has internal interdigitated electrode layers 504A, 504B for causing piezoelectric vibration by a driving voltage applied to an input terminal (Vin). A first driven section 506, also made from piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric plate, for generating a first output voltage (Vout1) at a first output by the piezoelectric vibration transmitted from the driving section 502. A second driven section 510, made from piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric plate, for generating a second output voltage (Vout2) at a second output by the piezoelectric vibration transmitted from the driving section 502. Thus, a piezoelectric ceramic multilayer transformer with a multiple output is created.

Piezoelectric transformer with multiple output

A piezoelectric transformer with voltage feedback is disclosed. The transformer comprises a piezoelectric plate of predetermined length, width and height with a driving section formed by alternately stacking a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers having internal interdigitated electrode layers. A driven section including an unpolarized dielectric section, a voltage feedback section in the form of a multilayer electrode structure or an outer strip, and a normally polarized dielectric section is also disclosed. The transformer generates an output voltage at an output terminal by the piezoelectric vibration transmitted from the driving section. A feedback control circuit is connected to the voltage feedback section. The isolated voltage feedback provides feedback control to keep the transformer operating at the proper resonant frequency even as there is a change in output load of the transformer.

Piezoelectric transformer with voltage feedback

A laser tuning method for tuning a ceramic passband filter comprises forming an untuned filter that includes at least one metallized element, such as a resonator pad, formed of an undersized metal plate. A thick film of a metal powder paste is applied to the filter adjacent to the undersized plate. The paste film is scanned with a laser beam to sinter the metal particles into an integral plate, thereby adjusting the size and shape of the element to obtain a desired performance characteristic. In one aspect of this invention, an output signal in response to a test signal is monitored while laser scanning the paste film, whereupon the laser beam is discontinued when the desired characteristic has been obtained.

Laser tuning of ceramic bandpass filter

Improved frequency characteristics can be achieved by using input/output pads on a surface mount block filter which pads are mounted on mesas formed by troughs cut through the dielectric material and metallization.

Dielectric block filter with isolated input/output contacts

A PLZT based shutter system reduces flare produced by reflective surfaces normally associated with PLZT based and other SLR shutter systems by eliminating a diffraction mirror and using highly reflective electrodes directly on the PLZT element to function both as the reflective mirror and as the electrodes to produce the E field in the PLZT element. The invention has an improved performance by reducing flare and has a reduced parts count improving its manufacturability and reliability.

PLZT shutter

A PLZT wafer modulates a laser light beam while dissipating heat into a heat sink. The rear side of the wafer is coated to act as a mirror to reflect incoming light and to transfer heat from the wafer. The front side of the wafer has electrodes, separated by a gap through which a laser light beam can pass. An incoming light beam is modulated by the PLZT when it is energized by an electric field on the two front side electrodes. The mirrored side reflects the beam so that it exits the front side.

PLZT Laser modulator

An electro-optic display having either variable-color or selectable-color capability is disclosed, with each having particularly efficient electrode patterns for achieving color control. Each implements a passive display utilizing an electro-optic material such as PLZT having one of these types of electrode patterns and aligned with an appropriate multi-colored filter. By applying D.C. control voltages to these sets of electrodes, which are sufficiently small to form unit cells, variable or selectable color is perceived. The patterns may be arranged in a sequence of any length or width, with the three-shutter pattern featuring no surface-mounted crossovers.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

James R Phillips